1998Final results
1998 election for U.S. Senate in Louisiana
U.S. Senate · Louisiana
John Breaux (D) won with 64.0% of the vote, defeating Jim Donelon (R) by 32.4 points.
John BreauxDemocrat · winner
64.0%620,502
Jim DonelonRepublican
31.6%306,616
Raymond BrownOther party
1.3%12,203
Sam Houston Melton Jr.Democrat
1.0%9,893
Darryl Paul WardRepublican
0.8%7,964
L. D. "nota" Knox Sr.Other party
0.7%6,366
Jeffrey H. DiketOther party
0.3%3,227
Martin A. RosenthalOther party
0.2%2,394
969,165 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1998
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
John BreauxJim Donelon
$4M
Raised by the campaign
$364.1K
$3.9M
Spent by the campaign
$364.1K
$1.5M
Cash on hand
$42
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1998.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1998
The candidates
John Breaux (D)Jim Donelon (R)
Also on the ballot: Raymond Brown (Other party), 1.3%; Sam Houston Melton Jr. (Democrat), 1.0%; Darryl Paul Ward (Republican), 0.8%; L. D. "nota" Knox Sr. (Other party), 0.7%; Jeffrey H. Diket (Other party), 0.3%; Martin A. Rosenthal (Other party), 0.2%